I have not been super productive to be honest. I have done some writing and finishing up some reward things for the Starslam kickstarter. But other than that, nothing else. We'll see what happens. Right now, I am just enjoying the break from everything.
In my time of disconnection, I'm taking time to reconnect to parts of me and my life that I had forgot about.
Saturday I finally had a full day off with myself. I had many thoughts of what I should do with a whole day on my own. Maybe get some work done. Maybe take a trip to Kalamazoo or Grand Rapids to do some shopping. But ultimately, I chose to drive to Saginaw/Midland. I hadn't been to Saginaw in well over ten years. I have friends in Midland and while I was hoping to possibly run into them, it didn't happen. We all lead busy lives and my trip was quite unplanned. So in a way, I preferred it as a solo trip for me. A chance to clear my mind and just enjoy the drive.
I went a back way into Saginaw and hit a couple newer stores that sold used media, coming up empty handed. Then I found an old stomping ground: The Fashion Square Mall on Bay Rd.
After hitting the mall and a used game store called "GAME ON," I headed to Midland, making a stop in the legendary town of Bay City. I was tracking down the rumor that one of the only two HOT N NOW restaurants still thrived there. So I took the chance and did a search and I struck gold!
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There she is! THERE SHE IS!!!! AHHHHHHHHHH.... |
After that I headed to Midland to find another used video game store for NES classics. I drove past old haunts, seeing that the old porn video rental store is gone. The Ponderosa I used to eat at every Midland trip is gone. But something special still remained....
On Saginaw Rd. in Midland I found the other GAME ON used game store. I found a special Gem: The Legend of Zelda for NES, in the box! I had to scoop that up. The Legend of Zelda is my favorite video game of all time. To have this piece of my childhood, complete and in the box was a rare treasure. I felt like I had been gifted for my idea to come to these old haunts, just by finding that. I was saddened to learn that the old video store that was near there had closed. So it goes. Things and time have come and swept away lots of the places I had loved going to.
On my way out of town, I stopped by this old porn store called AFTER DARK FANTASIES. It was among the first porn stores I used to go to when I was younger. This swinger couple used to run it. Now it has new owners and its a couple doors down from where it was in the same strip mall outside of Sanford, MI. I walked around inside but didn't get anything. But it was nice to know that for as many places I used to know are gone, the porn store still remains!
I hit M-20 and drove to Mt. Pleasant just for a quick run through, before hitting the expressway for home. I thought about stopping to see my brother but it would have added a couple hours to my trip and I wanted to get home to actually maybe get some work done. He was probably busy anyway. I guess I got cold feet about it because I struck out seeing my friends in Midland. But I was enjoying being on my own anyway. So I just drove through the old hometown seeing how much had changed. There were some new buildings and restuarants in place of old ones. Facades of buildings have been upgraded. Everywhere I looked I'd think, "Such and such used to be there. Now its gone." Nothing reminded me of what I once knew. Its like I was taken back in time going to Saginaw, only to be reminded that its 2016 and so much has changed when I hit Mt. Pleasant.
I drove home in silence. Not saddened, but comfortable. Happy I took the trip down memory lane but content that change has happened and it is good.
Change happened everywhere.
In places.
In me.
Time came and swept away lots of what I once knew as "my life." But it was good to know that I still remembered what it all looked like, and how it tasted and smelled. A stupid little failed burger chain helped me reconnect with what was. That feeling alone, was worth the trip.
I get back to my home and put away my nostalgic finds of old video games and used Blu rays from my trip.
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My NES collection is growing! I'm especially proud of my inbox game finds! |
Everything I own is a shrine in a museum of my life. The posters I got for my new apartment are all old movies I love. I bought special cleaners to take care of my 30+ year old video games. I did some writing and then I curled up and watched some STAR TREK, a 50 year old TV Show. And I felt content. I felt happy. Calm. It was a nice sensation. Later my girlfriend came out and we talked and I told her about my experiences reconnecting with my past. Then we held each other until I fell asleep with her.
I don't think I've had a better night's sleep in a long time.
--T
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